Filarial parasites cause skin lesions in a condition known as
filariasis or elephantiasis, and affect the lives of millions of people,
especially those living in tropical countries. The spread of this
disease is usually through mosquito bites. Symptoms involve a swelling
and thickening of the skin and lymph glands, which can in some cases be
considerable. Skin lesions usually persist for a long time. The acute
infection usually causes nocturnal fever and local tenderness. Chronic
lesions are usually painless.
The Ayurvedic treatment of
filariasis is aimed at controlling the infection and treating the
symptoms of this disease. The herbal medicines, Guggulu (Commiphora
mukul) and Kachnaar (Bauhinia variegate), are considered to be the main
stay of treatment for this disease. Medicines like Nityanand-Ras,
Kanchnaar-Guggulu, Arogya-Vardhini, Triphala-Guggulu and
Punarnavadi-Guggulu need to be given in high doses for prolonged periods
in order to reduce the swelling and thickening of the skin lesions.
Medicines like Sukshma-Triphala, Gandhak-Rasayan,
Mahamanjishthadi-Qadha, Chandraprabha-Vati and Trivang-Bhasma are used
to treat the basic parasitic infection responsible for this disease.
Patients who do not respond satisfactorily to these medicines can be
given additional medicines like Ras-Sindur, Malla-Sindur,
Sameer-Pannag-Ras, Ras-Manikya and Abhrak-Bhasma. In order to reduce
swelling, medicines like Gokshuradi-Guggulu, Gomutra-Haritaki,
Punarnavadi-Qadha, Dashmool-Qadha, Ikshumool (Saceharum officinarum),
Deodar (Cedrus deodara), Apamarga (Achyranthus aspera) and Sahinjan
(Moringa pterygosperma) are used.
Local applications on the skin
lesions are also quite helpful to reduce swelling and thickening of the
skin. Ointments containing Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia), Saariva
(Hemidesmus indicus), Haridra (Curcuma longa), Daruharidra (Berberis
aristata), Ras-Sindur and Gandhak (Purified sulphur) are used for this
purpose. Traditional herbal formulations like Dashang-Lep and
Shoth-Har-Lep can also be used for this purpose. Blood-letting from the
affected lesions with the application of leeches is also helpful in
reducing symptoms.
Filariasis has a wide range of clinical
manifestations in different tropical regions ranging from mild to very
severe forms of the disease. Appropriate modifications in treatment need
to be made according to the presentation of symptoms.
